At first, I didn't invest enough time in this game, so I did not understand it well. But after the Shifters expansion arrived, I bought all DLC and commited myself to understand this game. And I was really impressed. This is an awesome game. The game map is so beautiful and fun to explore, with so many different kinds of anomalies, ruins and resources that will keep you interested. Research and science is really cool, deep and technologies really change the game as you progress forward. Combat is fun and interesting on a strategic level, on the tactical level I will say it is a little too easy, but quite entertaining to watch big, meaningful battles unfold. The heroes system is quite good, although they could have had better variation when it comes to hero names/portraits, skills and gear. I am undecided as to whether the gear upgrade system is a tedious chore or cool - I miss having more variation of choice of soldiers, but I like the attachment you get to your favourite crew, and new equipment REALLY boost them. Expanding the empire is actually very good: I think it is easier and not so tedious to maintain your big empire in this game compared to others where micromanagement of all your cities kill some of the fun (e.g. Civilization V). And the quests are exciting, quite immersive and fun to fulfill. I love how the great variety in different victory conditions keeps you on the edge until the end, since even when completely dominating the world in terms of military, science, expansion and wealth, you still get that notification that some other, smaller civilization has unlocked the last chapters of the Quest victory.

Conclusion: All in all, this game is a gem. It is in, my opinion, the second best turn-based 4X game - only beaten by Civilization V (with all DLC). I give this game 9 out of 10.


Olafr blogs about modding and gaming: http://gamersparadiseolafr.tumblr.com/


Olafr reviews similar games:
- Sid Meiers Civilization IV: Colonization (with RaR mod).
http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198031254429/recommended/16810
- Civilization V.
http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198031254429/recommended/8930
- Galactic Civilizations III.
http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198031254429/recommended/226860
- Thea: The Awakening.
http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198031254429/recommended/378720


Follow Olafr the Viking Steam Curator for reviews of STRATEGY - RPG - SURVIVAL games: http://store.steampowered.com/curator/25341025-Olafr-the-Viking/


Learn more about the Olafr Rating System (1 to 10):
http://gamersparadiseolafr.tumblr.com/post/152254235900/olafr-the-viking-rating-system-1-to-10-olafr
Compare this game’s rating to other games in the Olafr Rating History: http://gamersparadiseolafr.tumblr.com/post/152254318505/olafr-the-viking-rating-history-olafr-the

At first, I didn't invest enough time in this game, so I did not understand it well. But after the Shifters expansion arrived, I bought all DLC and commited myself to understand this game. And I was really impressed. This is an awesome game. The game map is so beautiful and fun to explore, with so many different kinds of anomalies, ruins and resources that will keep you interested. Research and science is really cool, deep and technologies really change the game as you progress forward. Combat is fun and interesting on a strategic level, on the tactical level I will say it is a little too easy, but quite entertaining to watch big, meaningful battles unfold. The heroes system is quite good, although they could have had better variation when it comes to hero names/portraits, skills and gear. I am undecided as to whether the gear upgrade system is a tedious chore or cool - I miss having more variation of choice of soldiers, but I like the attachment you get to your favourite crew, and new equipment REALLY boost them. Expanding the empire is actually very good: I think it is easier and not so tedious to maintain your big empire in this game compared to others where micromanagement of all your cities kill some of the fun (e.g. Civilization V). And the quests are exciting, quite immersive and fun to fulfill. I love how the great variety in different victory conditions keeps you on the edge until the end, since even when completely dominating the world in terms of military, science, expansion and wealth, you still get that notification that some other, smaller civilization has unlocked the last chapters of the Quest victory. Conclusion: All in all, this game is a gem. It is in, my opinion, the second best turn-based 4X game - only beaten by Civilization V (with all DLC). I give this game 9 out of 10. Olafr blogs about modding and gaming: http://gamersparadiseolafr.tumblr.com/ Olafr reviews similar games: - Sid Meiers Civilization IV: Colonization (with RaR mod). http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198031254429/recommended/16810 - Civilization V. http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198031254429/recommended/8930 - Galactic Civilizations III. http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198031254429/recommended/226860 - Thea: The Awakening. http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198031254429/recommended/378720 Follow Olafr the Viking Steam Curator for reviews of STRATEGY - RPG - SURVIVAL games: http://store.steampowered.com/curator/25341025-Olafr-the-Viking/ Learn more about the Olafr Rating System (1 to 10): http://gamersparadiseolafr.tumblr.com/post/152254235900/olafr-the-viking-rating-system-1-to-10-olafr Compare this game’s rating to other games in the Olafr Rating History: http://gamersparadiseolafr.tumblr.com/post/152254318505/olafr-the-viking-rating-history-olafr-the